The Bird Coat

This tale of passion, persistence, and hubris reminds us that what seems foolish in hindsight may have been born of boldness and bravery.

The tailor Pierre has a big dream: He wants to fly. To make this outlandish vision a reality, he decides to sew a garment that is up to the task: his very own, resplendent bird coat. But can a human really become a bird with anything but disastrous results? This is a fantastical story of the imagined selves that we dream into being, and the hubris that can come hand-in-hand with these imaginings. Illustrated in the distinctive hand of award-winning Norwegian illustrator Øyvind Torseter, this tale was inspired by the true story of Franz Reichelt, dubbed "the flying tailor," who in 1912 jumped from the Eiffel Tower in an attempt at flight.

Inger Marie Kjølstadmyr has a masters degree in Nordic Literature from the University of Oslo. She works as a freelancer in publishing and as a theater reviewer, and she made her literary debut in 2011 with the children's book Henrik and the Bath Sponge. The Bird Coat is her second book.

Øyvind Torseter is a Norwegian artist and illustrator who has created eleven books on his own and several with other authors. He’s received numerous awards for his books, including a Bologna Ragazzi Award and the Norwegian Book Art Prize. In 2014, he was a finalist for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award. His books have been translated into several languages, with six already published by Enchanted Lion. He lives and works in Oslo.